Final Flashcards
It is February and your cow/calf pairs are housed in a barn that is closed up to prevent snow and rain from getting in and of course it is warmer than if they were outside. However, several of the calves have been treated for early stages of pneumonia. What non medical actions can be done to help prevent additional calves from getting sick and requiring treatment?
You can make sure the barn has proper ventilation, without there being a draft. You also should make sure the calves are getting additional nutrition.
What behavorial activity of the cow, shortly after giving birth, is considered essential to establish the maternal bond between cow and the newborn calf?
She needs to start by seeing the calf. She should also smell and taste the calf so she can recognize it. These stimulants will cause oxytocin to be released, which drives the maternal behavior
First calf heifers are often times poor mothers, neglecting or even abandoning their calves shortly after birthing them. What are two contributing factors for these heifers that can lead to rejecting or abandoning their calf after birth?
One is that there was not enough oxytocin released during parturition. Oxytocin influences that maternal behavior.
Another factor is that the heifer may not know what is going on, causing her to reject the calf and not recognize it.
A calf has scours. What would be the viral cause? What is the most effective preventative of this type of scours in a very young calf?
BVD
The bets way to prevent this is to make sure the calf is in a clean environment. Another way to prevent is by vaccinate the cow before calving
Pneumonia can be caused by several viral organisms. Name two of the most common viral organisms that can cause respiratory diseases in cattle.
PI3 and BRSV
It is recommended to vaccinate a pregnant cow 3-4 weeks prepartum, for diseases which her newborn calf might be vulnerable for infection. What is the reasoning for the timing of 3-4 weeks before calving?
At 3-4 weeks, there is a sufficient concentration of antibodies that can be passed to the calf from the colostrum when it nurses. This will help the calf build immunity to disease
Your herd has been diagnosed with an aggressive outbreak of Salmonella scours in the young calves. What would be the most immediate and effective preventative that you could use in the calves born during the next couple of weeks. For a longer term prevention, an effective method would be what?
Long term prevention would be to vaccinate the cows before calving. The immediate prevention would be to give the cows and calves antibotics
You are on a barn check this evening and you notice a cow that has separated herself from the rest of the herd. As you continue to watch the cow you notice that she seems uncomfortable and there might even be a small string of mucus starting to leak from her vulva.
a. are you observing a cow in stage 1, 2, 3 of parturition
b. What is going on internally to the cow at this stage
c. once the calf appears, you check to determine if the calf is coming in the correct position, how?
d. upon inspection, you determined the calf is coming correctly. How should the calf be presented as it proceeds normally during the process
a. stage 1
b. oxytocin and estrogen levels have increased and there are mild contractions that help position the calf. The increase in hormones have also caused the cervix to fully dilate
c. You palpate, being sure to use aseptic technique. You could feel the legs to determine if the front or back legs are closest to the opening
d. the head should be tucked between the two front legs, but not completely tucked towards the chest
You walk into the barn and see a cow in labor with only half the calf’s head visible. The calf head is swollen to twice the normal size and appears lifeless. What would be the best method to determine if the calf is alive?
Check the suckling refelc by putting a finger in the mouth to the back of the tongue, Could also check the blink reflex by tapping on the eye
What is the most common explanation for various antibiotics to be ineffective when treating certain types of pneumonia?
Some types of pneumonia are viral or protozoic so bacterial antibiotics would not be effective, Some broad spectrum antibiotics may also be ineffective depending on the strain on pneumonia.
List the 2 most important pieces of equipment used when assisting deliveries during calving season
OB handles and chain
calf puller
What is the primary reason for vaccinating cows at 3-4 weeks rather than 1-2 weeks prior to calving?
At 2 weeks there is an adequate amount of antibodies, but not enough to provide immunity to the nursing calf
at 3-4 weeks there is a sufficient concentration of antibodies that can be passed to the calf through the colostrum
You are using a treatment product that is labeled for administration by either SQ or IM. Which method is industry preferred? Why is this method more acceptable
SubQ
IM injections can damage the muscle, which would have to be trimmed at slaughter. SQ injections are given in an area that is trimmed anyways, so it is preferred
Several products on the market help to control flies on cattle during the summer. One group falls into the IGR type of products. What fly species does the IGR product Altosid help control? Briefly describe the mode of action of Altosid
horn flies
the cows ingest Altosid, it travels through the GI tract and is disposed in the manure. When the flies lay eggs in the manure, they due not hatch due to the treatment
What is meant by the term “controlled breeding season”? Why is this part of the requirements for having a successful herd health plan?
Controlled breeding is exposing the herd at the same time, like AI or putting a bull with cows
It is needed for a successful her health plan because calving will take place at the same time, meaning calving management will happen in the same time period
Face flies spread what disease in a herd of cattle and calves during the summer month? What is in tool available to help control face flies
Pinkeye
Ear tag with fly insecticide to prevent flies from landing on their face
Briefly explain why an animal would produce a dark cutting beef carcass? How does proper handling of cattle in the feedlot and at the processing plant reduce the incidence of dark cutters at slaughter?
genetics or stress
when the animal is stress, cortisol levels rise, which causes pH to be high due to little lactic acid being stored. The dark meat is not preferred for consumers, therefor proper handling so animal isn’t stressed is important
A cow herd manager is not on a regular deworming program but he does follow a strict vaccination program for his cow herd. Recently, he has had a rise in respiratory issues that he has needed to address. What is likely the relationship between his lack of deworming program and the increase in health related problems?
Internal and external parasites will weaken the immune system, which could make them more susceptible to `sickness and could cause health issues
There are a number of vaccines that combine a modified live, killed, and toxoid vaccine. What is a disease, discussed in class, that uses a toxoid vaccine as a prevention?
tetanus
We commonly use a variety of vaccines in our cattle herd. Why would a cattle manager use a modified live vaccine as opposed to a killed vaccine?
Modified live uses antigens that help give animal greater immunity, they also are stringer and fight more diseases
Why is it a problem to use expired medication when treating sick cattle?
It can cause serious side effects and may not work as well to fight diseases/ sickness
Name one viral respiratory disease and describe what is the most effect means of prevention in week old calves
BRSV
vaccinating cow a month before calving, this will help the calf build immunity when getting colostrum
The cattle grub is the larval form of what insect? How are cattle grubs best controlled or eliminated in a beef herd?
heel fly
specialized chemical that can be used before, during, or after the larvae migrate to the dorsal line
when vaccinating a young calf with a combination clostridial vaccine it is recommended to vaccinate at 4-6 months of age and then again one month later. What is the purpose of the second vaccination in this protocol?
help build immunity by providing a booster
